Nicolás Lodeiro

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Lodeiro and the second or maternal family name is Benítez.
Nicolás Lodeiro

Lodeiro playing for Uruguay in 2014
Personal information
Full nameMarcelo Nicolás Lodeiro Benítez
Date of birth21 March 1989
Place of birthPaysandú, Uruguay
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing positionAttacking Midfielder
Club information
Current team
Boca Juniors
Number10
Youth career
Barrio Obrero
2003–2007Nacional
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2007–2010Nacional41(11)
2010–2012Ajax21(2)
2012–2014Botafogo47(7)
2014–2015Corinthians7(0)
2015–Boca Juniors9(1)
National team‡
2008–2009Uruguay U2011(5)
2009–Uruguay34(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 June 2014

Marcelo Nicolás Lodeiro Benítez (Spanish pronunciation: [nikoˈlaz loˈðeiɾo]; born 21 March 1989), commonly known as Nicolás Lodeiro, is a Uruguayan footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Argentine club Boca Juniors.

He has played professionally in Uruguay, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Argentina, winning the Eredivisie in both of his seasons at Ajax.

A full international since 2009, Lodeiro has earned over 30 caps for Uruguay. He was part of their squads which came fourth at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and won the 2011 Copa América.

Club career

Early career

Lodeiro was born in 1989 in Paysandú, which borders Argentina. It was here that he made his first steps as a footballer in the youth sides of local club Barrio Obrero. It wasn't too long before his talent was recognised by a local scout called Daniel López who nurtured him to play for the youth team at Nacional Montevideo aged only 14 years old.

Nacional

Four years later, at the age of 18, Lodeiro made his debut for the Nacional first team against Fénix on 19 August 2007. Later on in the year he also scored his first senior goal and it was clear to see that in Lodeiro, there was a new star in the making.

A year later, Lodeiro continued to make progress, securing more playing time and even scored against River Plate in the Pre-Libertadores playoff. But 2009 was the year that Lodeiro really began to make progress. His three goals and several assists in the Copa Libertadores helped Nacional to reach the semi finals of the tournament. In April 2009 he was named 58th highest scorer in the world by the IFFHS following his performance in the Copa Libertadores[1]

Lodeiro played a vital role for Nacional in the 2008/2009 Copa Libertadores, which saw Nacional reach the Semi-finals. From then on, Lodeiro has been considered one of the best youth players in the country.

Lodeiro is well known for his ability to glide past players with ease, due to his speed, close control and dribbling ability. He is also a very energetic player and his fitness ensures excellent movement on the pitch. Lodeiro likes to come towards a player in order to receive the ball and subsequently take control of play. However, he also likes to move wide towards the flanks and can often be found on both sides of the pitch and operating in the middle during the course of the same game. Lodeiro is two footed but has a particularly lethal left foot shot and is dangerous from free kicks.

Ajax

In January 2010, Lodeiro signed a contract with AFC Ajax until June 2012 with option of 2 more years.[2] He joined his fellow Uruguayans Bruno Silva and his friend Luis Suárez at Ajax. His first appearance for Ajax was as a substitute in the match against FC Twente on 7 February 2010. He marked his first goal against Go Ahead Eagles with Ajax on 25 March in the KNVB Beker. Because of an injury he sustained during the World Cup he didn't play a single match for Ajax in the 2010/2011 Eredivisie season. He did however make 19 appearances for Ajax the following season, scoring twice in the regular season, and once against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, all while helping Ajax to win their 31st league title.

Botafogo

On 20 July 2012 it was announced that Botafogo had signed Lodeiro to a four year contract, taking the young midfielder over to Rio de Janeiro from AFC Ajax for an undisclosed fee.[3]

Corinthians

On May 29, 2014, Lodeiro signed a four-year deal with Corinthians, for a R$4.5 million fee.[4] He was the only player at the club to play the FIFA World Cup in that year.

Boca Juniors

In 2015, Lodeiro signed with Argentinian club Boca Juniors.

International career

Under-20

During 2009, Lodeiro also progressed on the international scene with good performances for the Uruguay under-20 national team. This included outstanding performances at a South American under-20 tournament in Venezuela where he scored three goals and led Uruguay to third place. He also contributed impressively at the FIFA under-20 tournament in Egypt,[5] scoring two goals in four matches.

Senior

His senior international debut for Uruguay came against Costa Rica, in the CONCACAF-CONMEBOL 2010 World Cup Play-Off. He played both legs of the play-off and, in the second leg at home, was named player of the match for Uruguay.[6]

2010 FIFA World Cup

Lodeiro at the World Cup.

Lodeiro played for Uruguay in the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals and, in Uruguay's opening match against France, was the first player to receive a red card at the tournament.[7]

2011 Copa América

Lodeiro was a member of the Uruguay national team that won the 2011 Copa América in Argentina.[8]

International goals

Olympic team

Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
126 July 2012Old Trafford, Manchester, England United Arab Emirates2–12–1 (W)2012 Olympics Games

Senior team

Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1.23 June 2011Estadio Atilio Paiva Olivera, Rivera, Uruguay Estonia3–03–0Friendly
2.23 June 2013Itaipava Arena Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil Tahiti5–08–02013 FIFA Confederations Cup
3. 13 November 2013 Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan  Jordan 0-3 0-5 2014 World Cup qualification

Career statistics

As of August 25, 2014.[9]

Club performance League Cup Continental Other Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Uruguay League Cup South America – Total
2007–08NacionalPrimera División80--20--100
2008–09254--104--358
2009–1087------87
Netherlands League KNVB Cup Europe Other Total
2009–10AjaxEredivisie8021----101
2010–11----------
2011–121321051--193
Brazil League Copa do Brasil South America State League Total
2012BotafogoSérie A182001100193
201326581001685014
2014CorinthiansSérie A7010000080
Total Uruguay 4111--124005315
Netherlands 212315100294
Brazil 51791111687717
Career total 1132012217616815936

National team

Uruguay national team
YearAppsGoals
200920
201050
201151
201220
2013102
Total243

Honours

Club

Nacional
Ajax
Botafogo

International

Uruguay

References

  1. ↑ "Nicolás Lodeiro, entre los mejores del mundo". Larepublica.com. 20 April 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  2. ↑ "Ajax contracteert Nicolás Lodeiro" (in Dutch). AFC Ajax. 23 January 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  3. ↑ "Official: Botafogo signs Nicolás Lodeiro from Ajax". Goal.com. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  4. ↑ No Uruguai, Lodeiro assina contrato e defenderá Corinthians por quatro anos In Uruguay, Lodeiro signs contract and will defend Corinthians for four years); UOL Esporte, 29 May 2014 (Portuguese)
  5. ↑ "10 Best Young Players at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup 2009". Just-Football.com. 21 October 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  6. ↑ "Uruguay vs Costa Rica". Goal.com. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  7. ↑ "Uruguay's Lodeiro gets World Cup's first red card". The Times of India. 12 June 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  8. ↑ "Minnows impress as the Copa América gets underway". ESPN. 5 July 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  9. ↑ "Nicolas Lodeiro". ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 16 May 2011.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nicolás Lodeiro.